Ben Aldridge writes about practical philosophy, comfort zones, mental health, and adventure. His first book How to Be Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable: 43 Weird & Wonderful Ways to Build a Strong Resilient Mindset is an exploration of unique ways to leave our comfort zones, face our fears and overcome our anxieties. Heavily influenced by Stoicism, Buddhism, Popular Psychology, and CBT, Ben's challenges encourage us to get uncomfortable and experience the personal growth that we can only gain from pushing ourselves to the limit.
After debilitating anxiety and panic attacks began to impact his daily life, Ben Aldridge decided to tackle his mental health issues in a creative way. His journey led him on a year of completing weird and wonderful challenges in the name of self-improvement. By deliberately leaving his comfort zone and enduring difficulties, Ben completely changed his life.
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This was the first book that I ever read on Stoicism and it really got me into the philosophy. It’s a great overview of Stoicism in the modern world and shows us how we can turn obstacles into opportunities.
This is one of the most important books on Stoicism out there. Marcus Aurelius was the Roman Emperor from 161 AD to 180 AD and used Stoic philosophy to help him face many challenges and guide his decisions. It’s a quick read, packed with timeless wisdom.
This book is an essential and compact guide to Stoicism by one of the greatest Stoic philosophers. It’s another quick read but filled with great content.
Seneca’s letters are extremely practical and give some great solutions to problems that many of us face today. It’s incredible to think how long ago this book was written yet it still remains incredibly accessible to the modern reader.
This is a fantastic guide to Stoicism and has many great examples of Stoic philosophy in action. It has lots of useful history that makes it a good general read on the Stoics.
5,887 authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about life satisfaction, stoicism, and Marcus Aurelius.
We think you will like Walden, Michel de Montaigne, and How to Think Like a Roman Emperor if you like this list.
From Emrys' list on simple living and the good life.
In 1845 Thoreau built a small cabin on land owned by his friend, the philosopher and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson, and conducted a two-year experiment in simple living. Walden is his account of this experiment. It's a hard book to summarize since, although quite short, it combines memoir, philosophical reflection, natural history, and social commentary. But it is beautifully written, and it has been an inspiration to countless readers who, like Thoreau, believe that we can deepen our experience of life by drawing closer to what is natural and elemental, reducing our dependency on things and, at least for a time, on other people. The book is required reading for anyone who delights in nature, is sympathetic to a philosophy of simple living, and who, like Thoreau, wishes "to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life."
From Nelson's list on tell a story previously untold.
For me, Montaigne’s thoughts on life and human foibles compare favorably with those of St. Augustine. His insights on the human condition are valuable to anyone inclined to self-reflection on one’s own frailties. Montaigne’s advice on coping with one’s mortality is worth heeding. He counsels that in order to deny death its sting, “…let us deprive death of its strangeness; let us frequent it, let us get used to it; let us have nothing more in our mind than death.” Yet our mortality is only one of many issues he discusses. Montaigne offers up wisdom on everything from fear, prayer and solitude, to the virtues of social intercourse, avoiding unwanted relationships, and educating children.
From Vitaliy's list on that bring meaning to your life.
While William Irvine’s book introduced me to Stoic philosophy, Donald took me further into the incredible life of Roman emperor and Stoic Marcus Aurelius. This book takes you deeper into Stoic philosophy. I get asked whom I’d want to have lunch with, dead or alive, and I answer Marcus Aurelius. During his reign he was the most powerful person in the Western hemisphere. History is littered with examples that prove Lord Acton’s quip “Power corrupts; absolutely power corrupts absolutely.” Marcus is a rare exception.